William H. Herndon, Jesse William Weik,
Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life, Etiam in minimis major, The History and Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by William H. Herndon, for twenty years his friend and Jesse William Weik

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[153]
satisfied.
There is a great deal of flourishing about in carriages here, which it would be your doom to see without sharing in it. You would have to be poor without the means of hiding your poverty.
Do you believe you could bear that patiently?
Whatever woman may cast her lot with mine, should anyone ever do so, it is my intention to do all in my power to make her happy and contented, and there is nothing I can imagine that would make me more unhappy than to fail in the effort.
I know I should be much happier with you than the way I am, provided I saw no signs of discontent in you.

What you have said to me may have been in jest or I may have misunderstood it. If so, then let it be forgotten; if otherwise I much wish you would think seriously before you decide.
For my part I have already decided.
What I have said I will most positively abide by, provided you wish it. My opinion is you had better not do it. You have not been accustomed to hardship, and it may be more severe than you imagine.
I know you are capable of thinking correctly on any subject; and if you deliberate maturely upon this before you decide, then I am willing to abide your decision.

You must write me a good long letter after you get this.
You have nothing else to do and though it might not seem interesting to you after you have written it, it would be a good deal of company in this busy wilderness.
Tell your sister I don't want to hear any more about selling out and moving.
That gives me the hypo whenever I think of it.

Yours, etc.

Lincoln.

Very few if any men can be found who in fond pursuit of their love would present their case voluntarily in such an unfavorable light.
In one

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